Best Buffalo Chicken Tater Tots (Loaded Totchos Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

How do I get the crispiest tater tots? ›

A slightly longer cook time makes the most delicious difference in both the taste and texture of tater tots. A longer cook time will cause the tots to shrink and dry out a little, which makes them even crispier all around on the outside with a potato-y center that's more dense and creamy.

Preheat your frying oil to around 350°F (175°C), then carefully place the frozen tots into the hot oil. Fry them for approximately 4-5 minutes or until they turn golden brown. Remember to drain them on paper towels to remove excess oil before serving.

We know that what keeps the Tater Tots stuck together is a combination of two pretty sticky things: moist starches and proteins. The more they come in contact with each other, the stickier they become, and the tighter/gummier the Tater Tots will be.

Olive Oil: Substitute for a neutral oil, like avocado or vegetable oil. Salt: Omit if the tots have salt added already. You can always salt them when they come out of the oven if needed.

You want them crispy, tater tots need to be cooked at a high temperature for this to happen. 375-400F is great, I find 375F the sweet spot to get them crispy but to also cook the inside before the outside burns.

First, make sure they aren't frozen together before they go into the oil. I like to hang the basket with the food in it over the oil as the oil is heating. Then I give the basket a shake before it gets immersed.

To make those frozen tots as tasty as possible, always preheat your oven or air fryer before cooking them — this ensures maximum crispiness. Load up on seasonings — salt and pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and a dash of cayenne.

Tots add a nice crunch to any sandwich, especially a melty grilled cheese. Change up the meat and cheese depending on what you and your kid's like. Grilled ham and Swiss sandwiches, and turkey cheddar melts, are both even better with tots.

2Drizzle the tops of tater tots with the remaining oil, then bake until golden brown on the bottom, about 12 minutes. 3Carefully flip each tater tot — using two forks helps to wiggle any tots that are more stuck than others — then bake until the second side is golden brown, another 12 to 15 minutes.

Make sure you're tossing the basket gently to prevent the tater tots from falling apart. If you toss the basket too roughly while the tater tots are halfway cooked, they might start to break apart.

Why are tater tots not fries? ›

A tater tot is different because it's a bunch of little potato pieces mushed into a shotgun shell and THEN fried. It's an aggregation of potato meat, just like a McNugget.

Form potatoes into tots. Heat vegetable oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium high heat until it registers 360 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. Working in batches, add tots to the Dutch oven and cook until evenly golden and crispy, about 3-4 minutes.

To the surprise of absolutely no one, air fryer tater tots are even better than oven-baked. They're ready in way less time, are supremely crispy and delicious, and are by far the best way to mimic deep-fried restaurant tots at home. Here's how to do it.

Frying Pan

First things first, place a skillet on the burner and turn it on. Coat the pan with some cooking spray or a bit of oil. Now that it's nice and warmed up, toss those tots in. Let them heat for one minute, then flip them over and let it go for another minute.

No, crispy crowns are different than tater tots. Crispy crowns are made from real potatoes that have been shredded and formed into a patty shape, while tater tots are usually made from mashed potatoes mixed with other ingredients.

Tater tots should be deep fried for approximately 3-4 minutes. This timing allows the tater tots to become golden brown and crispy on the outside while ensuring that the inside is fully cooked.

Preheat your air fryer to 400° for 1 minute. Then load the basket with frozen Tater Tots and cook for 7 minutes. Shake the basket well, then continue air-frying the Tater Tots for another 5-7 minutes until they've crisped up to your liking. Allow them to cool for about 2 minutes before serving.